Pump suitable for moving sludges and the like



R. K. STOCKS April 5, 194 v PUMP SUITABLE FOR MOVING SLUDGES AND THE LIKE 2 sneets-s'neet'l Filed Aug. 14, 1946 ATTORNEY April 5, 1949. R. K. STOCKS PUMP SUITABLE FOR MOVING SLUDGES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 14,1946

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RUNALD K. ETDEKE Patented Apr. 5, 1949 PUMP SUITABLE FOR MOVING SLUDGES AND THE LIKE I Ronald Kingsley Stocks, Johannesburg,

Transvaal, Union of South Africa Application August 14, 1946, Serial No. 690,395 In the Union of South Africa September 18, 1945 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pumps which are particularly suitable for use in moving sludges, slimes, and other fluids carrying a large amount of solids.

The object of this invention is to provide a pump in which the pressure chamber is collapsed progressively, and continuously in the direction of the fiow of the material being pumped. A further object is to provide a structure in which a portion of the pipe line conveying the material to be pumped is flattened by means of a chain of rollers travelling in the direction of the desired flow through the pump. Further objects of the invention are to provide in the structure for the regulation of the flattening of the pressure chamher; for anchoring said chamber against creep while allowing it to be turned to even out wear; and for the clearing of or the lubrication of the pressure chamber and the pipe line associated therewith.

According to this invention the pumping action is performed by squeezing progressively and continuously successive portions of the material to be pumped through a limited length of the pipe line. In a structure providing such action the portion of the pipe adapted to be collapsed and forming the pressure chamber for this pump may be carried so as to lie in the path of one or more rotating arms or rollers carried by a suitable mechanism and adapted to squeeze or collapse the pipe. Alternatively and preferably the pressure chamber of the pump consists of a length of tubing made of flexible and elastic material such as reinforced rubber which may be flattened under pressure by a roller and will tend to recover its tubular shape once the roller has passed. Thus there may be provided a series of rollers mounted on an endless chain and confined to a path during the passage of which said rollers are made to flatten the tube which is suitably mounted on a support capable of resisting the pressure of the rollers.

A plurality of tubes and rollers working in parallel and mutually connected may be provided so that any tube or tubes may be cut out or replaced in case of necessity without stopping the fluid supply moved by the pump.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. I shows the pump and a part of the pipe line in elevation with parts broken away.

Fig. II is a sectional elevation on the line AA in Fig. III, but with the position of the rollers varied on the right and left side.

Fig. III is a plan view of the pump mechanism.

In the drawings the pressure chamber of the pump consists of the resiliently deformable tube or pipe I supported on a platform 2. The platform 2 is as shown carried on a base 3 by means of levers 4 carrying weights 5, so that pipe I is held up to and supported against the pressure of the operating rollers 6 hereafter described. It is obvious that the levers 4 and the Weights 5 may be replaced by other suitable means such as hydraulic jacks or springs, but for the purpose of illustration the simple construction with levers I have been used. The upward lift of platform 2 is, however, limited to limit in turn the flattening of the pipe I, and for this purpose in the construction shown, adjustable stops 1 are provided (Fig. II) which limit the movement of levers 4 to press up platform 2. Said stops also serve to anchor platform 2 to base 3. 8 'are endless chains driven through sprockets 9. The chain illustrated carries three rollers 6 placed at equal distances, on the chain 8, so that the distance between them is equal to the distance on the pipe I, through which they travel to deform the latter.

To avoid shock the ends II] of the platform 2 are bevelled so that the rollers 6, compress and release the pipe I gradually. In Fig. III it will be seen also that the ends III of the platform 2 for each pipe I are not in line, but are staggered so that the working and the discharge of the pump with a plurality of pressure chambers will be more even. The spindles I I of the rollers'B carry wheels I2 which run on fixed tracks I3, so that the chains 8 and the rollers 6 are confined to a predetermined path. A portion I4 of track I3 makes the rollers 6 travel parallel with the axis of pipe I and forces them to deform the pipe I as shown. It should be noted, however, and as clearly indicated in Fig. I, that the length of platform 2 in relation to the pitch of the rollers 6 is such that the pipe I is never completely flattened or closed by two rollers 6' at the same time. This provision is found to be advisable to avoid excessive pulsations in the passage of the fluid through the pump.

It will be understood that this deformation or squeezing action of the rollers on the pipe I travels along it in the direction of the passage of the rollers 6 that is in the direction of the arrow Fig. I. The fluid in the pipe I is squeezed forward in the pressure chamber continuously by a succession of rollers 6. By the time one roller 6 releases the pipe I at the end of platform 2 another roller Ii in the series on the chain 8 has started to deform pipe I and starts to squeeze tinuous movement of the chain 8 a continuous stream of fluid is squeezed through the pipe I to be discharged into the outlet pipe l to which it is attached.

IE is the fluid supply for the pump. Usually it is advisable to place this above part l4 so that the pump is fed by gravity and does not require to 1-6191 oii check} valves; Shut-off c'oc'ks IT at the ifile't and outlet of pipe l may be inserted so as to cut off the fluid in case it is necessary to remove or repair pipe l.

Pipe I is retained in position longitudinally in relation to platform 2 by its attachment to'the inlet l8 and outlet of the pump. I Further it may be more securely anchoredto-platform 2 in any suitable manner. for doing this is to provide the pipes I with saddle pieces 20, each having a flat base 2i fastened to platform 2 and having also the upper portion in the form of a trough 22 as shown in the left hand portion of Fig. II: The saddle is made of resilient bB r-nke material so that it will flattea as n3 eeiiiorfiii to the shape of the pipe I when it piis' ses Beneath the roller 6 as shown in t e r ght of ig; n. The ater surface or the pi e and the surraee or the trough 22 may be left rougher specially made rough so that there will be 'suuiei'rii frictional contact between them to resist the tendency of the pipe I to creep under the pass ge of the rollers 6.

x in operation the fluid in supply sump i6 is sues/ea s pass to the pump chamber l by openirig the plug 23, Fig; I', cocks I! being open. The chain spieereis ll are rotated by a motor 21 or other seineeai and the rollers 3 move along pipe I in the direction or the arrow Fig. 1. The fluid in the pipe renews up roller 6 and when the latterappro'achs the end of its travel along part I: or guide i3 that is in the lower straight part of its path, the tube I over platform 2 is filled with fluid has flowed into position partly by gravity and partly by the reduction or pressure l e'ft the cavity in pipe I behind the roller 6 pipe! reforms to its circular section. The second roller 6 of the series now' appreac es t e top end of platform 2 and pipe I, while the roller 6 in from of it leaves the bottom end or platform 2. Continued movement of chain 8 brings the rollers 6 into the position shewn ih Fig. I and the fluid moves forward in part 24 of "pipe I between the "two rollers '6. Further movement of the chain 8 carries the bottom ibll'er "6 up and completely out of Contact with pipe l and the bum in part 24 is forced forward in pipe l by the flattening action of the following roller 6 "of the series.

lnfthis manner the fluid which may be material such as brewers mash, slimes in an ore treatmenu plan-t, andsiniilai'fliiidi'zeii solids s pumped from the inlet it some outlet is. If it is des irable to inerease the'veldcity of the fluid'in the outlet portion of the pipeline to prevent settlemeat or et ie wise th'e'oiitlet pipe 15 may have a smaller 'bOi' than pipe 'I as shown in Fig. I. 'It will be "noted from Fig.1 th'atth'e iii'n' is set at an "angle to the horizontal so that heavyor viscous material to be pumped will be 'fed by gravity thereto. Howeven'thereisno reason why in moving ino'st 'flui'ds' containing solids the :pump

should'no't beset-'horiiontal. It is howeverpvery desirable to have inlet l8 raised-so that'th'e'pump isfedby 'g'raviEy.

25 is an inlet -io'r liquid "or air under pressure which may be 'used to assist" in moving stoppagcs or for lubricating -the passage 'of the material through pipe I when mece'ssary or for 'fllling the A convenient method pump with clear fluid in case of a stoppage. 25 is a plug used for the removal of stoppages or for draining the pump and outlet in case of a shut down.

The pump is a continuous displacement pump due to the continuous and progressive collapsing of its'pres'sure chamber. The momentum of the fluid" through the pump is unidirectional and continuous, the flow is practically steady since it; is never completely checked by a roller and there are no valves required in the working of the'puin'p'.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1; A pump for moving fluids consisting of a pressure chamber which is collapsed progressively and continuously, comprising a resilient deformable tube, a series of rollers traversing the tube longitudinally to compress it radially, a resiliently mounted platform carrying the deformable' tube, a stop limiting the movement of the platform towards said rollers, acontinuous chain carrying the series of rollers, guides for controlling the path of said rollers, a portion of said guides fixed parallel to the axis of the deformable tube, the pitch between the rollers on the chain being equal between each pair of rolland greater than the part of the resiliently mounted platform parallel to the axis of the tube and connections joining the tube to the source of fluid su ply and to the outlet 01' the pump.

2. A pump for moving fluids consisting of a pressure chamber which is collapsed progressively and continuously, comprising a resilient dcform'able tube, a'member traversing the tube longitudinally to compress it radially, a resiliently mounted platform below the deformable tube, mountings for the platform holding the platform in position against the member compressing the tube, deformable rubber-like saddle pieces between the deformable tube and the resiliently mounted platform, and connections joining the tube to the source of fluid supply and to the outle'tof the pump.

3. A pump for moving fluids consisting of a pressure chamber which is collapsed progressive- 15; and continuously, comprising a resilient deformable tube, a series of rollers traversing the tube longitudinally to compress it radially, a resilie'ntly mounted platform carrying the deformable tube, a stop limiting the movement of the platform towards said rollers, a continuous chain carrying the series of rollers, guides for controlling the path of said rollers, a portion of said guides fixed'parallel to the axis of the deformable tube, the pitchbetween the rollers on the chain being sufficiently long to prevent any two consecutive rollers fully flattenin the deformable tube at the same time, and connections joining the tube to the source of fluid supply and to the-outlet'of the pump.

4. A pump for moving fluids consisting of ,a

:pressure chamber which is collapsediprogress'ively and continuously as claimed in claim 1 .in

:pressure chamber which is collapsed progressively and continuously, comprising 'aresilient de- -formable tube, a member traversing the tube longitudinally to compress it radially, 1a resili- *ently mounted platform below the deformable tube loaded pivoted levers :for the platform pressing it towards the member'compressingithe "tube and connections joining the :tube .to the source of fluid supply and to the outlet of the pump.

6. A pump for moving fluids consisting of a pressure chamber which is collapsed progressively and continuously, comprising a resilient deformable tube, a member traversing the tube longitudinally to compress it radially, connections joining the tube to the source of fluid supply and to the outlet of the pump, and connections at the inlet and outlet ends of the tube for admitting cleaning fluid to the pump chamber.

7. A pump for mOVing fluids carrying Solids consisting of a pressure chamber which is collapsed progressively and continuously, comprising a resilient deformable tube, a series of rollers traversing the tube longitudinally to compress it radially, a resiliently mounted platform carrying the deformable tube, a stop limiting the movement of the platform towards said rollers, a continuous chain carrying the series of rollers, guides for controlling the path of said rollers, a portion of said guides fixed parallel to the axis of the deformable tube, the pitch between the rollers on the chain bein sufliciently long to prevent any two consecutive rollers fully flattening the deformable tube at the same time, an inlet for the deformable tube, a source of fluid supply at a higher level than the pump, a connection joinin the inlet to the fluid supply, and an outlet for the deformable tube positioned at a lower level than its inlet said outlet being smaller in diameter than the inlet.

8. A pump for moving fluids consisting of a pressure chamber which is collapsed progressively and continuously, comprising a resilient deformable tube, a series of rollers traversing the tube longitudinally to compress it radially, a platform carrying the deformable tube while being traversed by said rollers, a continuous chain carrying the series of rollers, guides for controllin the path of said rollers, a portion of said guides fixed parallel to the axis of the deformable tube, the pitch between the rollers on the chain bein equal between each pair of rollers and greater than the part of the platform parallel to the axis of the tube and connections joining the tube to the source of fluid supply and to the outlet of the pump.

9. A pump for moving fluids carrying solids consisting of a pressure chamber which is collapsed progressively and continuously, comprising a resilient deformable tube, a series of rollers traversing the tube longitudinally and in a straight path to compress it radially, a platform supporting the deformable tube while being traversed by said rollers and at an angle to the horizontal, a continuous chain carrying the series of rollers, guides for controlling the path of said rollers, a portion of said guides fixed parallel to the axis of the deformable tube, the pitch between the rollers on the chain being sufficiently long to prevent any two consecutive rollers fully flattening the deformable tube at the same time, an inlet for the deformable tube, a source of fluid supply at a higher lever than the pump, a connection joining the inlet to the fluid supply, and an outlet for the deformable tube positioned at a lower level than its inlet said outlet bein smaller in diameter than the inlet.

RONALD KINGSLEY STOCKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 249,285 Allen Nov. 8, 1881 1,848,024 Owen Mar. 1, 1932 1,988,337 Santiago et a1 Jan. 15, 1935 2,434,802 Jacobs Jan. 20, 1948 

